Ep. 4: Speeding - The Real Danger and Why We Do it

Speeding isn’t just about breaking the speed limit—it’s about the choices we make behind the wheel every day. In this episode of Mastering the Commute, we dive into the real reasons people speed, from frustration with slower drivers to the illusion of an “open road.” But more importantly, we explore the overlooked dangers of transition roads—the curved ramps that connect freeways, where accidents happen more often than you might think.

As a former airborne traffic reporter, I’ve seen firsthand how these roads create some of the worst backups, not from multi-car pileups, but from single-vehicle spinouts and sudden slowdowns. So today, we’re asking:

🚗 Why do we ignore warning signs, even when they’re for our own protection?

🚗 How does speeding actually create more traffic?

🚗 And what small changes can you make to drive smarter and safer?

You’ll also hear:

✔️ The truth behind those yellow speed signs on freeway ramps—and why they’re not enforceable.

✔️ How social driving habits—racing to beat a red light, retaliatory speeding—make traffic worse.

✔️ The science of speed and congestion, backed by experts like Dr. Rick August and William Beaty.

✔️ Why transition roads (not adding more freeway lanes) might be the only real solution to fixing traffic.

And here’s a question for you: What’s your biggest frustration when it comes to speeding? Do slow drivers in the fast lane drive you crazy? Do you speed up when someone is tailgating you? Head to DriveSmarterNow.com and let me know!

🔗 Helpful Resources:

•Google Maps Traffic Guide: Google Maps Help

•Apple Maps Traffic Info: Apple Maps Help

•Waze Traffic Reports: Waze Help

Next Episode Teaser:

If speeding is all about going too fast, next time, we’re slowing things down—literally. In Episode 5, we’ll talk about red lights, deceleration habits, and how stopping too fast (or too late) affects traffic just as much as speeding. Don’t miss it!

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